The first memory I have of a religious experience was when I was ten or eleven years old, and I was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Holly, Michigan. We moved to another town where we didn't go to church. Then around my fifteenth birthday we moved back to Holly, Michigan and lived on a farm.

While working a part-time job, I met a young lady, Marilyn, who later became my wife. She told me that she couldn't date anyone who smoked, swore, or drank and didn't go to church. While attending her church, the Davisburg Methodist Church, I was asked to teach a junior boys Sunday School class. The summers of my junior and senior years I was a counselor at Bible camp.

During my junior year (16 years old) I went forward at a revival meeting and surrendered to be a preacher.

Upon graduation I enlisted in the Marine Corps. My first duty station was Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan. Attending church at the base chapel, I joined the choir, sang in a gospel quartet, and visited the Baptist missionary at Iwakuni. I was living a religious life, but without the power of God.

I was then transferred to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. (1959-1962) Again attending Chapel I was asked to teach the teen Sunday School Class and later started a teen youth group.

On December 19th, 1959, I married Marilyn, my high school sweetheart. She became a part of this ministry. Serving as the youth leader, the youth group went on several weekend camps. I was assisted by Chaplain Clarey who was my advisor. We saw some of these teens receive Christ as their Savior and dedicate their lives to serve him.

From September, 1962 to early 1974, I didn't serve the Lord except to go to Church occasionally but made sure my wife and children went to church.

In 1974, I received orders to Marine Corps Air Station HMM-263 Quantico, Virginia. As I was shopping at the Post Exchange, a young lady approached me and said “ Hello, aren't you Tom Rose? And what are you doing here? Don't you recognize me?” I replied, “No, who are you?”

She gave me her name and then stated, in 1962 at the teen camp, she received Christ Jesus as her Savior, and I had given a testimony to leave the Marines and be a Preacher. Then she stated “Where are you going to church?”, whereupon I said “Nowhere right now.” I ended up going to Marumsco Baptist Church, where Alex Bledsoe was the the Pastor. I became active in the various ministries; the bus route, choir, and the Christian School. Then the Pastor preached a Sunday morning and Sunday evening message on religious lost people that won't make it to Heaven. I was angry, but knew that Wednesday's service was on a book of the Bible, not dealing with religious lost people. We got to church, sang the hymns, smiled at everyone, and settled back to hear the teaching.

Pastor Bledsoe got in the pulpit and said he had a burden, and to please turn with him to Acts 10. I knew my Bible, and realized he was going to preach on Cornelius, a religious lost man. The Holy Spirit brought conviction upon me, and I realized it was the Lord telling me my works wouldn't do. I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, repenting to God and begging His forgiveness and by faith in Christ Jesus, God redeemed my soul. Praise the Lord! No longer was I in fear of Matthew 7:21-23; for I was saved on Wednesday, September 4th, 1974 and then baptized September 8th, 1974. September 21st, 1974 I went on a Med Cruise for 6 months. In April upon return to the States, I was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia where I attended Tabernacle Baptist Church, under Pastor Rod Bell.

While there I attended the Bible Institute full time Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6pm-9:30pm. I taught Sunday School, became the Primary Department Supervisor, and went on visitation each week.

I retired August 1st , 1977 from the Marine Corps. We moved to Watertown, Wisconsin to attend Maranatha Baptist Bible College, under Dr. Cedarholm. There I was active in the church, attending Calvary Baptist Church, in Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Upon surrendering to the Lord's calling, my first Pastorate was in August 1980. Thank God for His grace and mercy. The Lord has taken me on many adventures from 1980 to present day. He has blessed me with four pastorates, and I served as an associate pastor for 9 ½ years under Pastor Ron Tottingham (PhD), at Empire Baptist Temple in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While at EBT I taught the juniors in Sunday School, became the Chaplain at the State prison and County Jail ministry of Minnehaha County and was involved with the Mc Crossan's Boy Ranch. I attended Great Plains Baptist College & Seminary, where I completed a Master of Arts and Doctorate of Ministry. I was a member of the gospel quartet, later became the Dean of students, professor, and was the Headmaster of the Christian Day School.

God burdened my heart to plant an Independent Baptist Church in Marshall, WI in February of 2005 and I moved to Marshall. In April of 2006 Dakota Baptist Church in Minot, North Dakota, Pastor J. David Jones ordained me, and May 6th 2006 Marshall Baptist Church was organized.

In 2007 my beloved wife Marilyn went home to glory to be with her Savior, after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's. The Lord truly blessed her with a powerful testimony, that has rang true long after her going to heaven.

In 2009 the Lord blessed me all the more at the Van Born Baptist Church preaching conference, where I met Charlotte Mosbacker. She became my wife January 2nd 2010 and serves the Lord by my side to this day. The blessing she has brought to my life, as well as to our church, words can't possibly describe.